ABSTRACT
Background: Since 1990, the maternal mortality significantly decreased at global scale as well as the North Africa and Middle East. However, estimates for mortality and morbidity by cause and age at national scale in this region are not available. Method(s): This study is part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors study (GBD) 2019. Here we report maternal mortality and morbidity by age and cause across 21 countries in the region from 1990 to 2019. Result(s): Between 1990 and 2019, maternal mortality ratio (MMR) dropped from 148.8 (129.6-171.2) to 94.3 (73.4-121.1) per 100 000 live births in North Africa and Middle East. In 1990, MMR ranged from 6.0 (5.3-6.8) in Kuwait to 502.9 (375.2-655.3) per 100 000 live births in Afghanistan. Respective figures for 2019 were 5.1 (4.0-6.4) in Kuwait to 269.9 (195.8-368.6) in Afghanistan. Percentages of deaths under 25 years was 26.0% in 1990 and 23.8% in 2019. Maternal hemorrhage, indirect maternal deaths, and other maternal disorders rank 1st to 3rd in the entire region. Ultimately, there was an evident decrease in MMR along with increase in socio-demographic index from 1990 to 2019 in all countries in the region and an evident convergence across nations. Conclusion(s): MMR has significantly declined in the region since 1990 and only five countries (Afghanistan, Sudan, Yemen, Morocco, and Algeria) out of 21 nations didn't achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of 70 deaths per 100 000 live births in 2019. Despite the convergence in trends, there are still disparities across countries.Copyright © 2022 Academy of Medical Sciences of I.R. Iran. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Objective: The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effectiveness of a social cognitive theory-based distance educational intervention on anxiety in families of patients with COVID 19. Methods: This interventional study was conducted on families of patients with COVID-19 in Shahrekord, Iran in 2021. Based on the list received from the health center, 100 adult members from families with Covid-19 patients randomly were selected and assigned to the intervention and the control groups (50 per each group). The intervention group received a distance education framed as the structure of social cognitive theory while the control group received some educational material not related to the study by sending pamphlets, educational materials through the What Sapp group. The data used in the study were collected at three stages, including before the intervention, immediately after, and three months after the intervention. Using SPSS software version 25, the data were analyzed Results: Before the intervention, there were no significant differences between the study groups in terms of the mean scores of the constructs of social cognitive theory and anxiety. However, after the intervention and three months after trainings the mean scores of the constructs of social cognitive theory increased significantly in experimental group. The mean scores of anxiety in the experimental group also decreased significantly three months after trainings. Conclusion: Distance training based on the social cognitive theory was effective in decreasing anxiety in families of patients with Covid-19. © 2022, Iranian Institute for Health Sciences Research. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: Health literacy is a critical factor in the management of non-communicable and communicable diseases, such as COVID-19. The present study aimed to evaluate the status of health literacy concerning the prevention and control of COVID-19 among Iranian population in 2020. Materials and methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted using a researcher-made online questionnaire (The questionnaire consisted of seven multiple-choice demographic items and 50 questions on the health literacy of respondents during the coronavirus epidemic.) to collect data from 1200 Iranian compatriots selected via convenience sampling in 2020. Collected data were analyzed by running T-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson test, and regression test using SPSS 25 software. Significance level was considered based <0.05. Results: The mean score of health literacy was 66.33±15.48 indicating higher rates in women, age group of 20-25 years, single people, urbanites, employees, healthy people, and individuals with academic education (p<0.001). Study variables could predict 42.5% health literacy concerning the prevention and control of COVID-19. Gender, residential area, health status, level of education, and occupation were significant predictors of health literacy (p<0.001). Conclusion: Based on the findings, the health literacy of Iranian people was at a relatively desirable level. However, health authorities are required to design and implement purposeful and theory-based educational programs to raise the level of awareness in society. Paper Type: Research Article Paper Type: Research Article. © 2022, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.